Ramp vs Brex: EIN-Only Cards for Non-Residents
Ramp and Brex underwrite your company, not you, so they need no SSN, no personal credit, and no personal guarantee. For a non-resident with a funded US account, one of them is usually the easiest first card, and it starts your business credit file. Here is how they differ and how to get approved.
The Short Answer
Ramp and Brex are EIN-only corporate cards. They underwrite your company, not you, so they need no SSN, no personal credit, and no personal guarantee. They look at your US business bank balance and activity. For a non-resident founder with a funded US account, one of them is usually the easiest first card, and it starts your business credit file.
How They Differ
| Ramp | Brex | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Cost control, expense automation | Startups, higher balances |
| Underwriting | Business bank balance and cash flow | Business bank balance, often higher minimums |
| Personal guarantee | None | None |
| Rewards | Cashback, savings insights | Points, startup perks |
| Feel | Finance-team tooling | Startup-native |
Why Start Here as a Foreigner
The usual mistake is applying for an Amex on day one, getting declined for a thin file, and giving up. An EIN-only corporate card skips personal credit entirely. If your LLC has cash in a US account, you can often get approved without any US credit history at all. That approval then reports to the business bureaus and makes your next application, a personal-guarantee Amex, far easier.
What You Need
- A US LLC and an EIN.
- A funded US business account (Mercury or Relay). The balance is the underwriting, so fund it first.
- Real business activity. Movement through the account helps more than a dormant balance.
Order matters: LLC, then EIN, then funded bank account, then the corporate card. Each step makes the next one work. Apply for the card before funding the account and you get declined for the wrong reason.
Corporate Card vs Credit Card
Ramp and Brex are charge cards, paid in full each cycle, with no personal guarantee and no personal credit impact. They are ideal for liquidity and building a business file fast. The premium points and long-term personal credit come later from personal-guarantee cards like Amex. You want both, in that order.
When This Doesn't Apply
- Empty account. These underwrite your balance. Fund it first or get declined.
- Restricted industry. Crypto, gambling, adult, and cannabis are declined.
- You want to carry a balance. These are charge cards, paid in full each cycle. If you need to revolve, a traditional business credit card fits better.
- Very early, pre-revenue with no cash. Build or fund the business first, then apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a non-resident get a Ramp or Brex card without an SSN?
Yes. Ramp and Brex are EIN-only corporate cards. They underwrite your business bank balance and activity, not your personal credit, so they need no SSN, no personal guarantee, and no US credit history.
Which should a foreign founder get first, Ramp or Brex?
Either works as a first US card. Ramp leans toward cost control and expense automation, Brex toward startups and higher balances. Pick based on your style, both underwrite on your funded US account.
Do these cards build my credit?
They build business credit by reporting to the business bureaus (Dun and Bradstreet, Experian Business), not personal FICO. That business file makes your later personal-guarantee card applications easier.
What do I need to get approved?
A US LLC, an EIN, and a funded US business account with real activity. The balance is the underwriting, so fund the account before you apply.
Corporate card or credit card, what is the difference?
A corporate card (Ramp, Brex) is a charge card paid in full monthly with no personal guarantee. A credit card (like Amex) usually has a personal guarantee, builds personal credit, and can carry a balance. Founders want both, corporate first.
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